Missouri Legalizes Fishing (By Hand) For Catfish - Called "Noodling"

[matcom]

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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri is legalizing a new type of fast food. The food is fast and you have to catch it.

Starting next summer, people can jump into the state's rivers and grab their own catfish by hand.

It's called "noodling," and until now, it's been a misdemeanor offense. Conservationists were worried that people would pull too many large, mature catfish from logs and river bottoms.

But authorities have changed their minds and are giving the idea a chance next year. They're offering a $7 noodling permit that lets anyone hunt for fish the very old-fashioned way. The permits say each person can only walk away with five of the fish a day.

Before you try it, there's one warning: Many noodlers come up with fistfuls of angry snakes or turtles instead of fish.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4030953/detail.html